The Daily Schedule Of An Obstetrician And Gynaecologist

Obstetric and gynaecology (OBGYN) specialists will consult with their hospital patients 1-2 times a day and these can include medical and post-surgical patients. Medical patients can include those who are receiving treatment, such as intravenous antibiotics, for infections that affect the female reproductive organs.

OBGYNs will also be on call for the hospitals they work at and they may provide emergency services 1-2 times a week depending on how many specialists are available. These doctors can be consulted by primary healthcare workers and casualty doctors working at the hospital's emergency room. They will be called to consult with patients dealing with emergency cases such as bleeding during a viable pregnancy, ectopic pregnancies, complicated pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and miscarriages.

Monday

After seeing their hospital patients, the OBGYN will start the day in the office by confirming their surgical lists for the week and by making sure when they need to attend certain important meetings. 

The specialist will then start consulting with patients and provide conservative management where applicable. Procedures that can be done in the procedure room of the office includes uterine and transvaginal ultrasounds to confirm or follow up a pregnancy and "Pap" smears for cervical cancer screening.

If a patient needs to have surgery, they will be scheduled for one depending on the urgency of the situation.

Tuesday

A full surgical list awaits the specialist on this day. Procedures that would typically be done include laparoscopies to investigate the female reproductive organs such as the uterus and ovaries for endometrial tissue growth (endometriosis), sub-total and total hysterectomies, oophorectomies, D&Cs and myomectomies.

Emergency surgeries such as resection of an ectopic pregnancy (eg. a fertilized egg in the fallopian tube), Caesarian Section due to fetal distress and a laparotomy due to an acute abdomen caused by a complicated PID may be done at any time.

Wednesday

The morning may be used to perform elective Caesarian Sections on women who have been scheduled to have this procedure done when a normal vaginal delivery in contraindicated.

The OBGYN will use the afternoon to further consult with patients and managed them accordingly.

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Thursday

The morning will be set aside for theatre procedures again and the list may be similar to that of a Tuesday. 

The afternoon will be used for continued professional development sessions to further the specialist's knowledge, to offer training to under- and post-graduate doctors or for filling in of chronic prescriptions and letters to medical insurance companies.

Friday

The morning is reserved for consulting with patients and in-office procedures. The afternoon will be used for finishing up any unresolved administrative issues.

The specialist will then finish up the day by having the surgical lists for the following week confirmed and printed out. The doctor who will be working the weekend will be responsible for the care of their patients and those of any colleague that has discussed their patients with the doctor who is on call.